We see clips of the Queen of the Ring quarterfinal contest between the Shining Star and the Lord and Savior. Arisa and Jamie staring daggers across the ring at each other. Hayter leveling Arisa with a big boot, then locking in a single leg Boston Crab. Then Hayter hitting a superplex followed by an ushigoroshi. The next shot zooms in on Arisa’s dazed face as her opponent goes for the pin.
Arisa Hoshiki: “If I’m being honest, I don’t know how I survived that match. Jamie unleashed her strongest offense on me, nearly broke me a few times. But that spark’s still there. Maybe it’s just a little voice in my heart that keeps telling me to get up and keep fighting no matter how much it hurts. And it still hurts right now. Still, somehow right on cue - I got back up.”
We hear a huge pop as Arisa kicks out. Then in rapid succession, Arisa’s comeback replays. A springboard roundhouse, diving knee strike, cutter and then the Pulsar Kick. The ref’s hand slaps the mat three times and the Lincoln, Nebraska crowd cheers loudly. The scene quickly fades into a shot of Arisa sitting in the center of the ring in an empty AT&T Center. Behind her a sign with the Total Supremacy logo is clearly visible.
Arisa: “And now the stars I’m shooting for are an arm’s length away. One more match, one more physical battle and I can get that one more shot I need to prove myself. People might say that me reaching the final of this tournament was expected. That I was one of the favorites from the beginning. People can say and think whatever they want, but things don’t happen how you expect them to. A few months ago I wasn’t even sure I’d be wrestling again. After I lost my first title match it wasn’t guaranteed I’d get another shot. After I fell short again at Fallout, I wasn’t sure if I’d be in any condition to come back. But here we are. The flame keeps burning, the voice keeps calling, and I’m one three count away from the destined finale I’ve been chasing.”
She takes a deep breath and looks down the camera, cool and collected.
Arisa: “But to get there, I’ve got to get past a woman I’ve never fought before. A woman who came into the Queen of the Ring tournament with a lot of buzz but also a lot of uncertainty. Sakisama’s done a lot of talking, but she’s also backed it up with her performance in the ring. Behind those fancy words are the stiffest kicks and a cunning mind that might actually be really, really old and experienced. I’m not going to challenge the idea that she’s as old as she says she is, because that’s not going to get me anywhere. What matters is what she’s done in the ring. And so far that’s pretty impressive.”
Arisa holds up her fingers, counting off her opponent’s accomplishments.
Arisa: “Just in EBWF, she’s beaten Becky Lynch twice, then stopped a rampaging Maika with that Academy Award kick. Even if she hadn’t done anything else those wins are impressive enough to make her and intimidating opponent. Becky’s one of the best to ever lace up the boots and Maika is a powerhouse who can hurt a girl just by looking at her. But Sakisama went right through them like they were any other opponent. I give her credit for those wins, I don’t think I’ve seen anyone here be that dominant in such a short time. Well, maybe one person. And we’re going to fight for the right to fight that person. But it’s more than just Sakisama’s power in the ring that makes her scary.”
Arisa holds up a second finger with one hand, then we see a quick flashback to her standing at Uatmi’s side in Queen’s Court. This fades back to Arisa standing in the ring.
Arisa: “She’s just as dangerous with mind games as she is with her kicks. What I couldn’t do with any amount of offense she did with just poisoned words. I didn’t think anyone was as good as Utami at wrapping someone around their finger, but I guess I was wrong. It’s terrifying to know there’s someone here who can bring down the most dominant unit in EBWF like that. Who knows what else she’s capable of? Utami wasn’t as strong as she thought she was, and Sakisama showed us all what happens when you get that obsessive. I’m sure that she’s off in her palace thinking I’m no different than Utami. After all we’re both driven by the same goal - beat Tam Nakano and become the champion. We’re both willing to do whatever we have to in order to get that chance. But the Rose of Versailles needs to understand something about me.”
The corner of Arisa’s mouth turns up into a grin.
Arisa: “Utami and me? We’re not the same. Sure we both wanted to beat Tam, but that’s where the similarities end. For her it meant becoming cruel to everyone around her and trying to end every single woman who got in the way. Even if they were in her own unit. It drove her mad until she broke when she couldn’t finish the job. That’s how you were able to shatter Queen’s Court. She’d already weakened it with her constant need to prove she was better than the woman she couldn’t beat. You just pushed her buttons right and got her to submit to you after she’d already failed. Arisa Hoshiki is different.”
Arisa pauses and stares at the Queen of the Ring logo displayed on the entrance tron.
Arisa: “Utami was willing to do whatever it took to other people. I’m willing to do whatever it takes to myself. I’m willing to go through whatever pain, abuse and exhaustion it takes to get one more chance at the Twilight Dream. You may be taller than me. You may be better at mind games than anyone I’ve ever fought. You may have my former rival as your - maid or whatever. You may even have a kick that’s as devastating as my own. But I’m not like anyone you’ve fought here. Time catches up with everyone, and each fight for a big prize takes that much more out of me. Fighting you at my full strength might put me on the shelf for more than the months I was out after Fallout. This match is a gamble for me. But I love this sport and I know I’m not finished yet. So when the bell rings I won’t hold anything back against you. I don’t care what it costs, I’m going to wear that crown that you don’t even seem to care about.”
She takes another deep breath.
Arisa: “You talk and talk about how monarchs are at the mercy of the nobles who put them where they are. You think that you have total control over the entire world and can just push out whoever you dislike. I know who you are and what you’ve done. Back home you and your unit were one of the most dominant factions in wrestling. Tag team belts were always just waiting for Neo Biishiki-Gun to come and reclaim them. Heroes could be convinced to abandon their ways and ask for your guidance. And I can’t let that happen here in EBWF. You’d take that crown and toss it in the trash like it means nothing. It means everything to me. I don’t care about being a queen really, I’ve had enough of that. But I do care about the doors that crown opens. The opportunity that comes from being queen. And if I’m going to get one more chance at the title, I’ve got to get that crown. I’ve got to beat you.”
Arisa spins toward the camera with a roundhouse kick, fire filling her eyes.
Arisa: “I know who you are and what you can do. Do you know the same about me? Do you understand the woman you’re fighting at Total Supremacy? If you do, then you know I’m not scared of what you can do. Your mind games aren’t going to work on me because I’m honest about who I am. Your kicks are going to hurt me, but they won’t keep me down. And how many times can you keep your cool as I keep taking your most powerful offense and keep coming back for more? Is your Academy Award Kick as strong as my Pulsar Kick? I know what I want and I know that I have to take you down to even have a chance to get it. If you’re as old as you say you are, you know what a guillotine can do to a noblewoman who thinks she’s untouchable. So let me promise you something, madame Sakisama - my Pulsar Kick’s going to finish the work those guillotines started.”
She grins and points at the camera.
Arisa: “The next chapter in Arisa Hoshiki’s golden drama is ready to go. Check it out!”
There’s a commotion - footsteps to the side of the cameraman. The camera turns just soon enough to catch Tam Nakano standing at ringside with the EBWF Women’s Championship around her waist.
Tam: “Arisa - you’re still chasing me? Don’t you remember what I told you before that last match? Aren’t you afraid of what’ll happen if you do get to fight me again?”
Arisa lowers her arm and stares down at Tam.
Arisa: “I know what it might cost, Tam, but I’m still coming. Shouldn’t you be happy that I’m so determined?”
Tam: “Maybe, but I’m more worried that my friend’s not going to be around for long if she gets another match with me. I don’t want to lose you.”
Arisa: “You should be more worried about keeping that belt around your waist, champ.”
Tam sighs and turns away.
Tam: “If that’s what you want. Just don’t blame me if you burn up and crash down to earth again.”
Arisa watches her go, then looks back at the Queen of the Ring logo with determination clear on her face despite the champion’s warning.